Pentatonic Scales

Pentatonic Scales are scales that utilize five distinct tones. Pentatonic Scales can be constructed into both Major and Minor Scales.

Major Pentatonic Scale

You can easily determine a Major Pentatonic Scale by using the following notes of the corresponding Major Scale:

Major Pentatonic Scale = 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 1

Minor Pentatonic Scale

The Minor Pentatonic Scale is a mode of the Major Pentatonic Scale. This means that the scale uses the same notes as the Major Pentatonic Scale, but the root note for the scale is different. The Minor Pentatonic Scale starts on the sixth note of the correspond Major Scale.

Example:

If you start the C Major Pentatonic Scale on the sixth note of the scale it creates the A Minor Pentatonic Scale.